Written by: Alex

 

 

 

"Spare Parts" is a conceptually simple 3D action platformer that manages to entertain thanks to charming world and character design, helped in no small part by Simon Pegg providing the voice of Conrad the ship AI.

 

This Bright Light developed downloadable title does nothing to break the mould, following in the collect-a-thon tradition of games such as Banjo Kazooie, and while it may not be on quite the same scale as such full priced titles it provides a good chuck of entertainment for a reasonable price.

 

 

Spare Parts sees robot, Mar-T, embark on a quest to rebuild a wrecked ship that is inhabited only by an AI system, Conrad (Simon Pegg). Acting as a guide through the rest of the game Conrad explains the history of the ship and how it came to be stranded on the strange planet. The crafts advanced technology had made it the target of an intergalactic criminal called Krung who uses a race called the Krofax as his foot soldiers. Having run from Krung Conrad crashed on the planet, and now stranded Krung has found him and hopes to capture the craft for his own ends. Krung’s presence injects a (artificial) sense of urgency to proceedings as Mar-T and his robotic friends struggle to find the required parts needed to get airborne and to safety.

 

 

While nearly everything Spare Parts offers has been seen before this fact does nothing to detract from its appeal. As a fairly uncomplicated 3D platform puzzler Mar-T’s main task is to collect parts to rebuild the ship, but his collection antics are not limited to ship fragments. Other robots can also be found and activated along with training disks, but with one hundred ship parts to find he already has his work cut out. While mostly unessential these do flesh out the game a little, and offer some cosmetic alternatives and help introduce more advanced tactics.

 

 

From the outset a wide range of actions are available to help Mar-T find all the worlds gatherables. Jumps (and double jumps) prove the main method of navigation that are supported by attacks to help Mar-T best the indigenous life and invading Krofax he encounters. Punching, kicking or throwing items at any aggressors mean there are a good few combat options especially when used together perform ever more complicated combos offering higher a level complexity for those willing to look for it, though it rarely proved necessary for success leaving the combat often devolving into button mashing.

 

Importantly for a 3D platforming action title traversing the range of environments is enjoyable. Moving through the world in his quest to gather parts, everything Mar-T does feels responsive and (bar some scenery occasionally blocking the action) the fixed camera offers a good perspective on the action.

 

 

The planet on which Spare Parts takes place is a bizarre world, filled with lush flora and inhabited by any number of creatures that seem to want to attack the well meaning Mar-T. Senseless aggression of the creatures inhabiting the planet aside it is a beautiful place, taking on the appearance of a Saturday morning cartoon. Vivid colours and sound fill the world creating a background that suits the light-hearted tone of the game well.

 

 

The world of Spare Parts is not only attractive to the eye but also hangs together well offering a nice sense of place and progression as Mar-T and friends move through it. Beginning in a jungle, the action progresses effectively through a cave, before heading up a mountain and finally reaching an old temple.